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| Joseph Pemberton, left, remains in prison for the murder of Jennifer Laude, right. |
The Regional Trial Court Branch 74′s ordered on Sept. 1 for the early release of Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton drew protests from the family and lawyers of Jennifer Laude, who was found dead in a motel room in Olongapo city in 2014.
“The light penalty imposed on Pemberton proves that despite the president’s independent foreign policy, Americans continue to have the status of conquering colonials in our country,” said government spokesman Harry Roque.
But on Thursday (Sept. 3), Presidential spokesman Roque, who used to serve as one of the Laude family’s lawyers, said government officials cannot work on Pemberton’s release until the court has ruled on the appeal of the Laude family. Roque said the government is preparing a separate appeal of its own.
Pemberton was in the 6th year of his 10-year sentence. His lawyer said that the early release of her client was based on credits given for good behavior while behind bars.
But on Thursday (Sept. 3), Presidential spokesman Roque, who used to serve as one of the Laude family’s lawyers, said government officials cannot work on Pemberton’s release until the court has ruled on the appeal of the Laude family. Roque said the government is preparing a separate appeal of its own.
The Laude family's attorney said that Pemberton cannot invoke the equal protection clause because the (Philippine Supreme Court) ruled that there is a substantial difference between foreign military armed forces in the country and other people accused of crimes.
Pemberton was in the Philppines as part of the U.S. military contingent conducting joint military U.S.-Philippine exercises. He met Laude at a bar in Olongapo, a city known for its nightlife outside Subic Bay, a former U.S. Navy base.
Laude was later found dead, her head slumped in a toilet bowl in a motel room, where witnesses said she and Pemberton had checked in. According to a witness, Pemberton said he choked Laude after discovering she was transgender.
“Laude’s death personifies the death of Philippine sovereignty,” said Roque.
Pemberton was in the Philppines as part of the U.S. military contingent conducting joint military U.S.-Philippine exercises. He met Laude at a bar in Olongapo, a city known for its nightlife outside Subic Bay, a former U.S. Navy base.
Laude was later found dead, her head slumped in a toilet bowl in a motel room, where witnesses said she and Pemberton had checked in. According to a witness, Pemberton said he choked Laude after discovering she was transgender.
Laude's murder renewed calls for ending the U.S.-Philippine military agreements, which had been simmering among Filipinos for decades.
The murder of Jennifer Laude, with all of its political ramifications and questions about the LGBTQ community's status in the Philippines, was made into an award-winning documentary, Call Her Ganda, by PJ Raval
“Laude’s death personifies the death of Philippine sovereignty,” said Roque.
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